SATURDAY 24 JANUARY 2015

SAT 00:00 Book at Bedtime (b00r9y29)
Salley Vickers - Dancing Backwards
Episode 5
Eileen Atkins reads from Salley Vickers' acclaimed new novel, Dancing Backwards
Violet Hetherington's husband has recently died. Alone, she decides to take a cruise-ship crossing to visit her old friend, Edwin, in New York.
As she journeys across the Atlantic the quiet Violet begins to blossom - learning to ballroom dance, taking up smoking again, befriending a famously seething theatre critic. And in her time alone she reminisces about her early adulthood as a student at Cambridge. It's at Cambridge that she meets Edwin. Edwin, it soon becomes clear, is someone she's betrayed and someone she's both terrified and desperate to see again. The story that unfolds about the young Violet holds the secret to that betrayal.
In tonight's episode, Edwin discovers that Violet's been keeping a rather surprising secret from him.
Written and abridged by Salley Vickers. Vickers is a critically acclaimed, best-selling novelist whose work includes Mr Golightly's Holiday, Instances of the Number 3, Miss Garnet's Angel and The Other Side of You. Miss Garnet's Angel and The Other Side of You were both popular Book at Bedtimes. Last year she dramatised her version of the Oedipus myth, Where Three Roads Meet, for Radio 4's Afternoon Play slot. Before becoming a full time writer she was a psychoanalyst.
Produced by Kirsty Williams.
SAT 00:15 Amanda Vickery - A History of Private Life (b00njctg)
Alternative Homes
Historian Amanda Vickery presents a series which reveals the hidden history of home over 400 years. She draws on first-hand accounts from letters and diaries, many of which have never been heard before. Including songs which have been specially recorded for the series.
Homes were exposed to huge forces of change in the 19th and 20th century, responding to industrialisation, pollution, and the imperial mission. Prof Vickery explores how they remained idealised havens in a heartless, dirty world.
'Home means a place to go to when you are in trouble. A place sadly altered by war. A place to glorify when away and rely on always...' So reported one woman to the Mass Observation survey. Prof Vickery explores the enduring pull of a home of one's own.
Readers: Deborah Findlay, John Sessions, Madeleine Brolly and Simon Tcherniak.
Singers: Gwyneth Herbert and Thomas Guthrie, with David Owen Norris at the keyboard.
A Loftus production for BBC Radio 4.
SAT 00:30 15 Minute Drama (b00rkdgq)
Susan Hill - The Beacon
Inheritance
Dramatisation by Anita Sullivan of the novel by Susan Hill.
Frank turns up unexpectedly at the farm and the will is read.
May Prime ...... Manon Edwards
Frank Prime ...... Steffan Rhodri
Colin Prime ...... Iestyn Jones
Elsa ...... Eiry Thomas
Berenice Prime ...... Siriol Jenkins
Radio Interviewer ...... Mark Lawson
Doctor Ford ...... Richard Mitchley
TV Interviewer ...... Sian Williams
TV Interviewer ...... Kirsty Wark
Taxi Driver ...... Dick Bradnum
Produced and Directed by Kate McAll.
SAT 00:45 Michael Crawford - Parcel Arrived Safely: Tied With String (b019fx7g)
Episode 5
The tribulations and ultimate triumph of 'The Phantom of The Opera'. Michael Crawford concludes reading from his autobiography.
SAT 01:00 Jest a Minute (b01789l0)
Series 2
Episode 3
Rhod Gilbert's comedy quiz from the Glee Club in Cardiff.
With Lucy Porter, Milton Jones, Lloyd Langford and Chris Corcoran.
Producers: Paul Forde and Gareth Gwynn.
First broadcast on BBC Radio Wales in 2006.
SAT 01:30 Meet the Parents (b01pmfs6)
Series 3
AL Kennedy
Award-winning, Scottish novelist AL Kennedy returns to her mother's house in Bidford-upon-Avon for a good old blether. Their stories literally take us around the world from Stratford to Australia and back to Dundee. Their shared love of literature and Shakespeare is inherent and their conversation is peppered with lovely anecdotal stories from Alison's childhood and the books they would often read together.
SAT 02:00 Boxer and Doberman (b00wh02c)
Series 2
The Black Widow
When Boxer and Doberman are called to investigate the brutal murder of a popular Scottish actor, they become entangled (as you do) in a web of intrigue.
Things get even stickier when Boxer seems to fall for the murdered man's widow - seductive breakfast TV star Marion Swann. Doberman's suspicions are aroused. Boxer is just aroused...
Alastair Jessiman's comedy police drama features grizzled old-school, cardigan-wearing detective, DI Bob Boxer - and more instinctive, BlackBerry-wielding young sidekick, DS Shona Doberman.
Listen out for a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo from one of the stars of the show which "inspired" Boxer and Doberman - ITV's Taggart. (Clue: his appearance is a tea-time treat...)
DI Boxer ..... Finlay Welsh
DS Doberman ..... Anita Vettesse
Marion Swann ..... Juliet Cadzow
Mackenzie Baxter ..... Sean Scanlan
Joe Macnamarra ..... Alastair Jessiman
Director: David Jackson Young
Made for BBC Radio 7 by BBC Scotland and first broadcast in 2010.
SAT 02:30 Gershwin's Horns (b00bc2r4)
Rainer Hersch explores the musical significance of unusual instruments, including cannons, car horns, anvils, typewriters and salad bowls. All have featured in concert performances over the past 200 years, but who plays them?
With the help of two leading British percussion players, Mick Doran and Neil Percy, Rainer explores the soundscape that can conjured up by bowing a cymbal, rubbing a plastic cup on a gong or hitting a car suspension spring with a hammer.
SAT 03:00 Home Front - Omnibus (b04sy4tx)
1-5 December 1914 (Season 2 start)
Epic drama series set in Great War Britain. In the first omnibus edition of Season 2, everyone is looking to do their bit for the war effort. With Deborah Findlay, Rachel Shelley, Katie Angelou.

Written by: Sarah Daniels
Story-led by: Katie Hims
Consultant Historian: Professor Maggie Andrews
Music: Matthew Strachan
Sound: Martha Littlehailes
Directed by Jessica Dromgoole.
SAT 04:00 Carys Bray - Sweet Home (b04yg5pg)
Under Covers
Carol Evans's bra has blown off the washing line into some tall leyandii. As she struggles to retrieve it, two teenage girls next door laugh cruelly at their elderly, widowed neighbour. Their thoughtless comments are juxtaposed with Carol's own recollections of her deceased husband - with whom she continued to enjoy a warm and loving relationship following her mastectomy. Clever and moving story read by Emma Fielding.
Carys Bray's collection of short stories, Sweet Home, won the 2012 Scott Prize.
With psychological insight and lightness of touch frequently found in fairy tales, Carys Bray delves under the surface of ordinary lives to explore loss, disappointment, frustrated expectations and regret. Described as 'not just excellent, but significant', by poet and critic Robert Sheppard, these dark and lyrical stories illuminate extraordinary and everyday occurrences with humanity and humour.
Bray's stories are never afraid to expose the darkness that exists behind suburban front doors, but at their heart are brave, moving evocations of what it means to be at home with those you love.
Abridged by John Peacock
Producer David Blount
Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra by Pier Productions.
SAT 04:15 Nan Woodhouse (b007jx5f)
Now or Never
Age is no barrier for a group of older people who decide to make their wishes come true. Stars Thelma Barlow and Katherine Parr.
SAT 05:00 King Street Junior Revisited (b00kn4l8)
Series 4
In the News
The difference between fact and fiction and opinion...that's easily defined isn't it? Ask Miss Reid.
School comedy created and written by Jim Eldridge. Ten series of this King Street Junior ran between 1985 and 1998. King Street Junior Revisited ran from 2002 to 2005.
Stars Brigitte Forsythe as Mrs Eastwood, Marlene Sidaway as Miss Lewis, Michael Cochrane as Mr Maxwell, Teresa Gallagher as Miss Featherstone, Jacqueline Beatty as Miss Reid, Janice Acquah as Mrs Khan, Paul Copley as Mr Long and Amanda Gordon as Miss Spivey.
Producer: John Fawcett Wilson
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2005.
SAT 05:30 Little Blighty on the Down (b00805nv)
Series 3
Episode 3
Mrs Roberts faces fallout from an outspoken member of the parish council. Political satire with Jo Kendall. From July 1990.
SAT 05:55 Kenny Everett - Captain Kremmen (b04yg66w)
A Sticky End
The thrilling conclusion to this space adventure with the World's Most Fabulous Man. Kenny Everett's sci-fi serial from 1976.
SAT 06:00 Dario Fo - Accidental Death of an Anarchist (b01s63cx)
While in police custody a suspected terrorist 'fell' to his death from the fourth floor of Police HQ.
But someone, disguised as a maniac, has got into the building and is determined to find out what really happened and who is to blame...
Dario Fo's world famous comic masterpiece is a biting satire on police corruption.
Adapted by award-winning comedian Jeremy Hardy.
Adrian Edmondson ..... Maniac
Jennifer Saunders ..... Maria Feletti
Jill Gascoine ..... Superintendent
Stephen Frost ..... Inspector Bertozzo
John Forgeham ..... Inspector Pissani
Mark Steel ..... Constables
From Gillian Hanna's translation and Gavin Richards' stage adaptation.
Producer: Turan Ali.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 5 in 1992.
SAT 07:15 RD Wingfield (b00sw79x)
The Cellar
Behind a bricked-up entrance lurks a suspenseful tale of horror below stairs. Stars John Pullen and Rosalind Ayres.
SAT 07:30 Faking the Classics (b00t5z90)
Shakespeare
How fraudsters and tricksters have set out to fool us with counterfeits passed off as the work of the Bard. Jonathan Bate investigates.
SAT 08:00 Archive on 4 (b0076q7j)
Farewell to Winston
Nicholas Witchell remembers the winter's day on 30th January 1965 when the sleet fell - and a generation who had lived and served through the Second World War lost an iconic leader.
The grandeur of Churchill's state funeral saw a procession through the City of London, plus the coffin's final voyage down the River Thames to the Royal Festival Hall and on to Waterloo Station. From there the coffin was taken by train to its final resting place at Bladon Parish Church, Oxfordshire.
With excerpts from the original BBC commentary by Richard Dimbleby and Raymond Baxter, the programme recollects the thoughts and feelings of the wartime generation. With interviews with those were in the crowd or part of the procession. Features: Winston S Churchill, Nicholas Soames, Lord Deedes, Lady Soames, and Peter Dimmock.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2005.
SAT 09:00 Poetry Puh-lease (b050bh69)
Comedy and poetry have always had strong links, with many comics and poets blurring the boundaries. Now, comedian Kevin Eldon takes us on a three hour walk along the fine line between the two.
With the occasional input of his poet alter-ego, Paul Hamilton, Eldon presents a rich collection of radio comedy that celebrates the risible and funny side of poetry, including Tim Key's Late Night Poetry Programme; The Simon Day Show; Sir Ralph Stanza's Letter From Salford and the classic episode of Hancock's Half Hour, The Poetry Society.
There is also a look back at the life of the cult poet Hovis Presley, some scholarly input from Cariad Lloyd, and a brand new interview between Kevin Eldon and the magnificent John Cooper Clarke.
Along the way there is a rich mix of poetry that might be funny, sometimes cringe-worthy, occasionally absurd, sporadically nonsensical, but often brilliant.
SAT 12:00 Jonathan Franzen - The Corrections Omnibus (b050bhnz)
Episode 3
First ever dramatisation of Jonathan Franzen's darkly comic 2001 novel about the tribulations of a dysfunctional Midwestern family, starring Richard Schiff (The West Wing), Maggie Steed, Colin Stinton and Julian Rhind-Tutt. Dramatised by Marcy Kahan.
Alfred and Enid Lambert, a Midwestern couple in their seventies, are on board a cruise ship in the North Atlantic. Enid is determined to enjoy this long-awaited holiday, but Alfred's behaviour is increasingly unpredictable. Meanwhile, their three adult children face complications of their own.
Cast:
Narrator.....Richard Schiff
Enid Lambert.....Maggie Steed
Alfred Lambert.....Colin Stinton
Gary Lambert.....Richard Laing
Chip Lambert.....Julian Rhind-Tutt
Denise Lambert.....Roslyn Hill
Don Armour.....Shaun Mason
Brian Callahan.....Ian Conningham
Robin Passafaro.....Kelly Burke
Mrs Nygren.....Hannah Genesius
Sylvia Roth.....Elaine Claxton
Ted Roth.....David Acton
Gitanas Misevicius.....Sam Dale
Caroline Lambert.....Jane Slavin
Caleb Lambert.....Adam Thomas Wright
Jonah Lambert.....Sean McCrystal
Directed by Emma Harding
The Corrections was awarded the National Book Award in 2001, the James Tait Black Memorial Prize in 2002. It was included in TIME magazine's list of the 100 best English-language novels since 1923.
Jonathan Franzen is the author of four novels (Freedom, The Corrections, Strong Motion, and The Twenty-Seventh City), two collections of essays (Farther Away, How to Be Alone), a personal history (The Discomfort Zone).
Marcy Kahan is a playwright and radio dramatist. Recent radio work includes two series of Lunch for BBC Radio 4 (starring Claire Skinner and Stephen Mangan) and Mr Bridger's Orphan. Theatre work includes 20 Cigarettes (Soho Theatre) and the stage version of When Harry Met Sally (Theatre Royal Haymarket).
SAT 13:05 Inheritance Tracks (b04dq55n)
Jennifer Saunders
Comedian Jennifer Saunders chooses the Q5 theme by Spike Milligan, and Kate and Anna McGarrigle's song 'Talk to Me of Mendocino' sung by Kate and her children Rufus and Martha Wainwright.
SAT 13:15 Dickens Confidential (b01kbz4s)
Series 1
High Society
At the opening of Parliament, Charles Dickens meets Lady Kames and his editorial judgement is scrutinised. Stars Jamie Glover.
SAT 14:00 Dad's Army (b007k1s5)
Series 1
The Man and the Hour
14th May 1940: George Mainwaring, manager of Swallow's Bank in Walmington-on-Sea, answers his country's wartime call to form a platoon of Local Defence Volunteers - with the help of a misfit bunch of tradesmen and bankers.
Six years after legendary sitcom Dad's Army started on BBC TV, these specially adapted radio versions began recording with the original cast.
Captain Mainwaring …. Arthur Lowe
Sergeant Wilson …. John Le Mesurier
Corporal Jones …. Clive Dunn
Private Fraser …. John Laurie
Private Godfrey …. Arnold Ridley
Private Walker …. James Beck
Private Pike …. Ian Lavender
Announcer …. John Snagge
Adapted from Jimmy Perry and David Croft's original BBC TV scripts by Michael Knowles and Harold Snoad.
Producer: John Dyas
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1974.
SAT 14:30 It Sticks Out Half A Mile (b007jqc5)
Hidden Treasure
Pike and Hodges call in a clairvoyant to help them locate the rumoured booty hidden somewhere on the pier in Frambourne-on-Sea.
A seaside saga of pier perpetuation starring John Le Mesurier, Ian Lavender and Bill Pertwee.
Arthur Wilson …. John Le Mesurier
Frank Pike …. Ian Lavender
Bert Hodges …. Bill Pertwee
Miss Perkins …. Vivienne Martin
Madame Zara …. Betty Marsden
Written by Harold Snoad and Michael Knowles, based on the characters originally created by Jimmy Perry and David Croft.
Producer: Martin Fisher
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in October 1984.
SAT 15:00 Archive on 4 (b0076q7j)
[Repeat of broadcast at 08:00 today]
SAT 16:00 Dario Fo - Accidental Death of an Anarchist (b01s63cx)
[Repeat of broadcast at 06:00 today]
SAT 17:15 RD Wingfield (b00sw79x)
[Repeat of broadcast at 07:15 today]
SAT 17:30 The Rest is History (b04y9v20)
Series 1
Episode 6
Frank Skinner loves history, but just doesn't know much of it.
This comedy discussion show with celebrity guests promises to help him find out more about it.
With Josh Widdicombe, Roisin Conaty and historian in residence Dr Kate Williams.
Frank and company navigate their way through the annals of time, picking out and chewing over the funniest, oddest, and most interesting moments in history.
Producers: Dan Schreiber and Justin Pollard
An Avalon production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in January 2015.
SAT 18:00 Wally K Daly (b007jt88)
Time Slip
Paul Williamson arrives home, only to find himself already there. What exactly is going on? Stars Paul Daneman and Norma Ronald.
SAT 19:00 Poetry Puh-lease (b050bh69)
[Repeat of broadcast at 09:00 today]
SAT 22:00 Rhod Gilbert's Bulging Barrel of Laughs (b00tysvb)
Episode 5
Welsh comic Rhod Gilbert introduces regulars Lloyd Langford and Greg Davies, plus Sarah Millican who takes a weekly look at The Six Stages of Woman.
With live music from Divine Comedy.
Guest comedian: Shappi Khorsandi.
Find out whether animals can have human faces; what annoys Rhod about considerate builders; and the most surprising location for a postage stamp.
Producers: Julia Mckenzie and Lianne Coop.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in October 2010.
SAT 22:55 The Comedy Club Interviews (b051vgvt)
The best in contemporary comedy. Tonight Arthur Smith chats to Josie Long.
SAT 23:00 The Mark Steel Lecture (b00sh2f1)
Series 3
Napoleon Bonaparte
The radical comedian offers his humorous assessment of the life and career of the battling French emperor. From October 2002.
SAT 23:30 The Jason Byrne Show (b00mbvf7)
Series 1
Education
Exploring a fresh theme each week, the award-winning comedian hosts stand-up and sketches. With Ivan Brackenbury. From July 2008.